Posted by Jim FitzHarris on May 27, 2012:

In the Fall of 1969, I was a Cow (Cadet Second Classman) taking the mandatory course in Electrical Engineering that was a legendary academic hurdle in those days. Failure meant dismissal from the Academy, with all its attendant consequences. By early November, I was failing the course miserably, and was in the last course section of cadets. I was deficient and sliding into despair...then Major Ammerman became my instructor. The first thing he said to my section of about 12 cadets was that we were not stupid, and that he would not give up on us ever! He found a way to explain electricity that anyone could understand. Major Ammerman proceeded to explain electricity to us by relating the flow of electricity through a wire to water flowing through a hose! What kid couldn't grasp the concepts of water pressure, rates of flow, volume of water moved over a period of time? Every boy plays with water as a kid! I literally had an epiphany concerning electricity, and finished the semester with a B in Electrical Engineering, a miracle as far as I was concerned! It was because Major Ammerman found the way to open my mind. I have never forgotten him and his caring about teaching, getting though to us, and the futures of the cadet "goats" in his section. To top it all off, he was an Airborne Ranger, a Special Forces officer, and had such a magnetic personality. He was a real-life role model and inspiration for me. Thank you, Major Ammerman, for all you did for me! Without your help, I never would have graduated from West Point. Grip hands!

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